Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
- November 7, 2023
- Fair Play Labs
- 8h median play time
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 knocks nearly every single one of the first game’s problems into the blast zone while also introducing the exciting new Slime mechanic, a more interesting roster, and better visuals throughout.
"Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2" is a local and online multi-player fighting game featuring popular characters from various Nickelodeon shows. The game boasts improved visuals, animations, and audio, as well as new gameplay modes, stages, and cinematic supers. In the new single-player campaign, players must stop Vlad Plasmius from taking over the Nickelodeon universe.
Reviews
- Massive improvement over the first game with better graphics, gameplay, and character diversity.
- The slime mechanic adds depth and creativity to combat, making it unique among platform fighters.
- The campaign mode is engaging and offers replayability with its roguelike elements.
- Online matchmaking is often broken, with frequent disconnects and long wait times for matches.
- The game suffers from various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including soft locks and unresponsive controls.
- The price point of $50 feels steep given the issues and the absence of some beloved characters from the roster.
- gameplay137 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2" has been widely praised for its smooth mechanics and innovative slime meter, which adds depth and creativity to combat, allowing players to enhance moves and execute powerful attacks. While the game draws inspiration from the "Smash Bros." series, it successfully carves out its own identity with unique character mechanics and a more polished experience compared to its predecessor. Despite some minor bugs and balance issues, the overall gameplay is considered engaging and enjoyable for both casual and competitive players.
“The gameplay feels a lot less janky and the slime meter is a really cool and interesting mechanic that I am still labbing to find new combos.”
“The slime mechanic is an incredibly unique and interesting mechanic that not only adds so much to the potential of the game, but also differentiates this game from every other platform fighter.”
“The gameplay is incredibly fun, and the campaign has an entertaining story with lots of little details and character interactions.”
“While they did add some new mechanics to the game, it doesn't undercut the fact that it's a disappointing sequel to NASB.”
“The only unfortunate part of gameplay is the lack of SD/SDI ability out of combos.”
“Gameplay-wise, matches were boring.”
- story36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the fun and entertaining narrative, particularly for fans of the original shows like "Danny Phantom." The roguelike campaign mode is highlighted as a unique and engaging feature, offering varied gameplay and character interactions, though some players find it repetitive and flawed due to certain boss mechanics. Overall, while the story mode is seen as a significant improvement over previous titles, it still has its share of bugs and issues that detract from the experience.
“It also has an incredibly fun roguelike campaign mode, featuring the first original story for a Nicktoons crossover game in 15 years.”
“The story mode is currently the highlight for me as it provides unique interactions with everyone having voice acting at launch, multiple bosses that are fun to fight against, and a challenging risk and reward system from going from stage to stage.”
“The voice acting is not only even better this time around, but all the cute dialogue interactions and jokes included in the story mode are a joy to listen to, giving so much soul to all these beloved characters.”
“From glitched achievements to locking me out of story mode with an infinite loading screen.”
“Unfortunately nobody wants to give this the chance it deserves because the first one was so bad... :( the only real issues I've had is that the bots randomly just give up entirely and don't do anything when they grab the ledge, and the roguelike story (as much as I do like it) is kind of flawed because the bosses are just damage sponges that you can't grab, which for some characters (Plankton especially) makes it almost impossible to beat on higher difficulties.”
“After doing a few runs, enough to complete the story, it was already getting quite repetitive.”
- stability30 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game has received mixed feedback regarding its stability, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can detract from the overall experience. While some players note that most issues are not game-breaking and the gameplay remains enjoyable, others express frustration with the frequency and severity of the bugs, particularly in online play and character controls. Overall, the game shows promise but is currently marred by stability issues that may require future patches to address.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, no FPS issues and loads battles quickly.”
“Runs great on Deck.”
“The only downside I have with this game is that it, like its predecessor, is a bit buggy.”
“I was really excited to try this game, but immediately got disappointed once I found out that the game is so buggy and in some instances unplayable.”
“Right now it is a giant buggy mess that is not worth $50.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers noting significant improvements over the previous title, showcasing fresh and fantastic visuals. While some players found the graphics to be merely "good" or "alright," the overall consensus highlights enhanced animations, better readability, and a more polished aesthetic. However, a few critiques mention bugs and optimization issues that detract from the visual experience.
“The visuals are really fantastic and feel very fresh.”
“Huge step up from the first game in terms of content, graphics, and readability in my opinion.”
“Graphics and overall visuals are improved a lot over the first game, and the game just feels very good to play.”
“Overall, I think it's a very fun game to play if you can overlook some of its aesthetic flaws.”
“There is nothing about this game that I like; the slime system feels bad, the movement is slow and awful, I couldn't find anyone online, the graphics are ugly, the balance feels all over the place. It took everything I loved about the first game and threw it out the window, only to replace it with worse systems all around. I'll be refunding this game ASAP.”
“It needs to be better optimized; the graphics settings are a mess, and changing them barely helps.”
- music21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchiness and variety, while others find it generic and less memorable compared to the first installment. Notable tracks have been highlighted, particularly from specific stages, but overall, the soundtrack is seen as solid yet lacking standout moments. While the music enhances the gameplay experience, it may not resonate as strongly with all players.
“The game features a solid soundtrack and a variety of unique stages to play on.”
“It looks incredible, feels incredible, even sounds incredible with a surprisingly good soundtrack!”
“Whoever composed the music deserves a raise.”
“I personally believe that the music was better in NASB1.”
“The music is pretty generic and forgettable.”
“The only thing that got worse in my opinion is the soundtrack and roster.”
- humor13 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing and enjoyable, particularly in the campaign mode where powerful perks add a comedic twist. While some critiques mention unfunny roster jokes and balance issues, the overall sentiment highlights the game's fun and humorous elements, making it a pleasurable experience despite minor frustrations.
“I like the funny Spongebob fighting game 2.”
“Campaign is surprisingly fun, funny, and extensive.”
“When this game gets some more updates to address some of the glaring balance issues I might come back and change my review, but for right now the vast majority of people finding fun out of this game are funny enough, not playing it.”
“The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the jokes unfunny.”
“The attempts at humor are so weak that they barely elicit a chuckle.”
“Most of the jokes are stale and lack any real wit or creativity.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly through its engaging roguelike campaign and polished single-player content, which encourages players to experiment with different characters and strategies. While some reviews note a lack of variation in individual runs, the overall consensus highlights the fun and replay value provided by the campaign and robust online play.
“A clear improvement over NASB 1 with great replayability thanks to its campaign and terrific netcode for cross-platform online play.”
“Unbelievably replayable thanks to the new campaign.”
“Just not enough content or variation per run to tap into the replayability that the rogue-lite genre can offer.”
“Roguelike campaign is very fun, with good boss fights, platforming levels, and minigames, and has a lot of replay value.”
“This game is definitely an upgrade to the last game and offers a rogue campaign that's replayable.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly regarding its controls on PC and performance issues on platforms like the Steam Deck, with users noting frame drops and inadequate graphics settings. While some players appreciate the improvements over the first game, many feel that the overall optimization is lacking and could greatly enhance the gaming experience.
“As someone who’s delved hundreds of hours into platform fighters, namely Smash 4, Ultimate, Rivals, and even played and enjoyed the first Nick All-Star Brawl (on Switch, so the performance was less than ideal), not only is this a major improvement over the first game, but an incredible platform fighter by itself!”
“I do think the costume pack price is quite hefty, and the game could be way better optimized on other platforms, but NASB2 on Steam is absolutely a great game and I think those who didn't like the first game would probably enjoy this one a lot more.”
“Fun as hell but still needs to be optimized for the Steam Deck because there are frame drops here and there.”
“One criticism I have is that the game is not optimized, and I wish there were a way to lower the settings.”
“This game is horribly optimized; movesets are poor, speed is lacking, and combos are ineffective. Don't waste your money on this abomination.”
“It needs to be better optimized; the graphics settings are a mess, and changing them barely helps.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is generally viewed positively, with a $50 price tag considered reasonable compared to other AAA titles that often launch with bugs and microtransactions. Reviewers appreciate the absence of microtransactions, contrasting it with other games like Multiversus, although some feel the game could have benefited from a free-to-play model. Overall, the game is seen as a labor of love rather than a cash grab, especially in comparison to its predecessor.
“The game has a lot more depth and a much higher budget this time around, and, to be honest, $50 is nothing compared to what most triple-A developers are asking for a bug-ridden, unfinished game at launch. At least you’re getting a game with no microtransactions like Multiversus, which will easily see you pay over $50 if you want to unlock anything fast.”
“This is an abandoned member berry cash grab just like the first one was.”
“They should have gone the Multiversus route and made it free-to-play with microtransactions.”
“It's night and day compared to the first NASB and feels less like I'm playing a Smash clone cash grab.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed emotions regarding the game's controls, with frustrations stemming from clunky mechanics and bugs overshadowing the experience. However, the inclusion of native GameCube controller support elicited joy, highlighting a positive emotional response amidst the challenges.
“However, native GameCube controller support made me shed a tear of joy as I did not have to do a complicated workaround like in other games.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by engaging and heartfelt designs, complemented by strong voice acting and a well-crafted campaign featuring roguelite elements. Players appreciate the depth and uniqueness of the characters, contributing to an enjoyable single-player experience.
“Still really fun, and there is a lot of heart in character designs, stage designs, voice acting, etc. It also has a good amount of single-player content, with a decent campaign featuring roguelite elements.”
“Interesting character designs.”
Critic Reviews
‘Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2’ Is More Brain Than Brawn (PC)
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 isn’t shabby, but it isn’t shining either.
65%Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Review
A decent Super Smash Bros. clone that clearly improves on the first iteration, but Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is rife with problems on Nintendo Switch. The 30 frames per second gameplay, unbelievable load times, poor presentation, and glitches that force reboots of the game mean this isn't going to be a joyful time unless playing on one of the more powerful systems. Underneath the numerous issues, there is fun to be had here, and crossplay will at least help ensure match-ups when battling online, but it is difficult to recommend this version of the game.
40%Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Review — A cartoon superstar showdown
While some awkward controls and stiff animations keep this game from perfection, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is most definitely a title worth checking out. Fighting game fans and nostalgic Nickelodeon heads both have plenty to get out of this title, which makes great improvements over its successor. Plus any game with El Tigre in it is a good game in my book.
70%